December Update

Feels like time to blog again. Things are going swimmingly. I finished and turned in my final final paper todat at 6:33 pm. I am officially done with school work indefinitely. To celebrate I went to sconecutters and got dinner and a peanut butter cup shake then watched "A Christmas Story" and went to bed early! Unfortunately, now it's 12:45 and I'm wide awake and have heartburn, but it was worth it. In other news, I finished watching all 11 seasons of MASH again. I just absolutely love that show and it amazes me how touching it can be sometimes, and I'll just sit at work listening to it and have tears roll down my cheeks, that's how good it is.
I have been reading a lot of conference talks lately, just from this last conference. There are so many great talks. One thing I have found in a lot of the talks is the idea that "things like this are common in the church." They're talking about revelation, or feeling the spirit, or those cool stories Pres. Monson always tells about being in the right place at the right time to bless someone's life. There were several great talks on following the spirit and the love and law of God. One talk from the priesthood session really stuck out to me. It was the first one by Elder Ballard about fathers and sons. It was awesome to be sitting with dad and it made me realize how awesome dad is. I don't know the exact number but I was realizing that for most of my life dad has been in some leadership calling or another. I don't think I've ever heard him complain about church service, he just humbly does his duty. You are all aware that I've done a lot of stupid things and dad was the bishop I got to confess things to before my mission and he never showed an ounce of anything but love and concern. There was another talk in the priesthood session about being ready when the calls comes, by Pres. Eyring. Dad has always been that example for me. Whenever, whomever, wherever... doesn't matter, he'll be there if he can to help. So, thanks dad for your amazing example, for your years of sacrifice and service.
Well I guess that will be all for now. I hope everyone is taking the time to find areas for growth in our lives whether it's building new relationships or strenghtening old ones, or just coming to know the savior better, I hope we're all working on something. I don't know what life will bring the next couple months, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm hopeful for the future and I'm hopeful for your futures. Our family has really grown the last couple years, matured. I was noticing at Sunday dinner that I can't imagine a better family, that 20 people can get together and not have any fights or serious contention and could sing carols and hymns together. I just can't imagine a happier time. So thank you all for helping make this Christmas season memorable already. Know that I pray for you individually and sincerely care for each of you. Merry Christmas.

Open invitation

Hey all, it's time for another poetry topic. This time it's going to be open to everyone with no contest or voting. The theme is simply Christmas, so whatever Christmas means to you, or should me, or used to mean etc. And, (I love starting sentences with and) just post them in your own blogs as soon as you get them written so that we can all read them throughout the season. I would encourage the kids to write one as well, or if they don't want to write a poem poem then have them draw a picture or tell you a story or whatever you would like to do, heck, they're your kids. I think this will be a fun one, I don't think I've ever written about Christmas, or really ever even thought about what Christmas means to me. Good luck, I'm anxious to see what we all can come up with. Don't be afraid to write, to stretch yourself a little bit. Take your time if you need to, start with some basic ideas, like a lump of clay, and then slow mold it into what you would like to say. I've written a lot of cigarette ash trays in my life, but every now and then a bowl or a vase will appear so you just never know. Write two or three, submit them all. Maybe we'll make a book out of all of them eventually. What are you still reading this for? Go write!!

And the award goes to.....

Heather!!! Congratulations! Heather has won the poetry contest, I came in a distant second and mom and Margaret tied for a close third! Good job everyone! :) Aren't poetry contests fun? So here's the breakdown: Heather wrote #1, Mom wrote #2, Margaret wrote #3 and I wrote #4. Misty also submitted a poem after the polls were open. You can read that in my facebook notes or ask her or me to send it to you, it was masterfully written as well. If anyone has any ideas for the next one, let me know and hopefully we will get more poems submitted and more people to vote. Thanks again everyone :)

Time is up, put down your pencils...

Well, we have reached the end of the poetry contest. I think I told some people they had till the end of the month, but really they were supposed to be in by the end of August so I don't feel too bad. Below are the poems that I received, in no particular order, sans author. To the right is a place to vote for your favorite one. Easy peasy :) Also, check facebook because there will be a place to vote on there as well = more votes! Happy hunting.

#1

Death, despair, destruction, fear await at every hand
Weary souls, once strong and whole, lay strewn across the land.
Anguished cries of heartache rise to meet the darkening sky.
And all around, on blood-stained ground, the wounded wait to die.

How did the mighty warriors fall? These strong and valiant men
Fighting for a common goal, their freedom to defend?
What caused them all to stumble, fall, and lose the precious prize?
What small mistake did each one make that brought their swift demise?

Their armor lies in tatters, scattered 'cross the wasted land.
The warriors fought, but none had thought to check ere they began
The very thing that would protect their fragile mortal frame
From fiery darts thrown at weak hearts when fearsome armies came.

I find a quiet, peaceful place where I can go to hide
and carefully and prayerfully examine every side
Of my armor that no harm or misadventure may befall
As I bravely and courageously accept my Master's call.

I polish dulling armor, scrape off rust and make it shine.
I tighten weakened bindings, make them strong and fast and fine.
As I put on the whole armor and I sharpen dulling sword
I become a stronger warrior in the Army of the Lord.

#2

The Armor of God
A warrior I will stand,
I’ll lift my heart to heaven and rejoice,
For my loins are girt with truth,
And spirit gives my trembling sword a voice.
This breastplate that I bear,
With righteousness and honor has been sealed;
I wear salvation’s crown,
A humble heart and mind with virtue filled.
My feet, in gospel peace,
Were angel-shod before the world began
And thus behind faith’s shield,
A strong and mighty warrior I can stand.
For Satan’s fiery darts,
His whirlwind that swirls shafts of doubt
Can’t penetrate the soul
Where God’s armor has been safely gird about.

#3


I’m too weak to be a great warrior I know but through Christ all my efforts increase.
Paul told the Philippians in 4:13 that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthenth me.”
I believe this is true so I try every day to win the great battle in very small ways.
It begins with the alarm going off, another day is beginning. The battle I fight each day, hopefully winning. Will I start today with a Scripture and Prayer to remind me where my strength is found?
Will I be patient when my children need me, or will the battle be lost in that one small moment when I yell at the child, so innocent and humble that I don’t want to be bothered with them at that moment?
Will I gather my family to read and to pray or is the TV more important today?
Will I go to the Temple or find an excuse when really there are so many things to do.
I’ve decided it’s not a grand battle I fight, its little decisions made every day to follow the Savior and trust in his way.
It’s going to church and Relief Society meetings, and doing my Visiting Teaching and callings or taking the time to talk to a neighbor or getting to know someone better.
There are so many choices to be made every day and I know that ones that I make right through Christ will increase.

#4

When evil reigns and dark
rearing forth its ugly head
in place of hope and love instead
a cold and shrivelled heart
and loneliness and hate
replace a warm, inviting home
and all is lost, it seems, or gone
and good is in retreat...
but wait. A glimpse, a path
a tiny light that penetrates
the darkest night, illuminates
the warriors against satan's wrath.
Though the battle rages on
and our bodies, caked in mud,
are fainting for the loss of blood
we must rise to fight again
for the power that He gives us
is greater than the darkness
the hopeless, cold, and heartless
and we know that He is with us.


(ps. if you sent me a poem and I didn't get it on here, let me know)

Poem

Morning. Dawn.
I strap my sword and buckler on
and join the marshalled ranks of God to fight.

Satan. Sin.
A battle that the Lord'll win
and bring the world his everlasting light.

Bleeding. Faints.
I Gather with the other saints
to overlook the battle's aftermath.

Sleeping. Rest.
One more day we did our best
Up against the dragon and his wrath.

Must be time to post again...

Hey readers. It feels like I've got a lot to say today, but nothing is coming out. Life is going well, though I've been really sad lately. It has been an interesting thing, going to therapy and all this last year or so. I've learned so many great things like how to fight anxiety and stress, how to make and stick to a plan for boredom and stressful situations. I've learned to have so many wonderful emotions that for some reason I would never let myself feel before, like excitement - I used to never get excited about anything. Unfortunately, along with these wonderful emotions came emotions at the other end of the spectrum.... and I don't think I was prepared for those ones. For the first time in a long time (if ever) I actually hated someone this year. I've disliked a lot of , people, but I hated someone. I get angry a lot more often now. And I think that it's because I've finally decided that I'm worth it. My feelings are worth protecting, and worth having... good or bad. One of the girls that I hometeach told me that her roomies kicked her out and that she moved into the other quorum's boundaries so I don't get to be her hometeacher any more, and it broke my heart.. and I was angry - angry that she didn't tell me, angry that she didn't ask for my help moving, angry that her roomie didn't tell me ...... but mostly, you know, I felt like a failure. Like my hometeaching wasn't enough and somehow I could have done more, or been more perceptive during our visits to know something was wrong. I just thought our relationship was better than that I guess.
And it reminded me of a time that I missed an appointment with my therapist, just sitting at work and I totally forgot, and I didn't call, and at our next appointment she reamed on me a little bit and said something to the effect of "I just thought our relationship was better than that" and after a while of "why didn't you call" I reminded her that I was just barely learning how to be in relationships with people and it was the first time I think I ever realized that relationships take work. And I'm not talking boyfriend girlfriend married or whatever, but just relating to the people around us. How easy it is to just sit in my own little world and not worry about what happens to other people, thinking I'm just not very good at it. It's just no excuse, because I am good at it. I think we are all good at it. I've noticed a pattern over the course of my life and maybe you all have too in your own lives that people seem to be loyal to me even though I don't put in any effort into the relationship, for some reason people want to be my friend.
And I still can't figure out, to this day, why that would be, and it's not a self esteem issue, so don't comment about that, I know I'm a great guy..... but I don't reciprocate anything to anybody. I don't put in any effort at all into these relationships. I wonder now how different my life would be if I only reciprocated what others gave me. If that's all the effort I put in, not going out of my way to do anything special, but just gave back what they've given me. I can't think of a single relationship in my life that wouldn't have been strengthened by just that..... I have the skills.... I may be awkward and not get it right (if there is a right) the first time, but I am starting to feel more and more that I owe it to people to try. Somebody goes out of their way, out of their comfort zone to say "hi" to me at church, I could at least be friendly. *sigh*
I think that's gonna have to do it for today, I'm just rambling. Oh, and I'm angry that nobody sent me any poems because I know all of you can write poetry ;) :p So, the challenge this week, reciprocate in relationships and send me a poem. Let me know how it goes or if you have any ideas on good ways you have found to reciprocate to people because I'm just learning how to do this and I need help.

Home Teaching Blitz

Wow, exciting night. Being the last day of the month the bishopric decided we should do a hometeaching blitz today. So, 7:00 I show up at the church and off we go. I was with the 2nd counsellor in the bishopric and all together i think there were 40-50 people that needed to get visited between all 8 of us. So they gave us a list of 12 or so and we went home teaching until 10:00, but we were only able to visit 4 people. So, so much for 100% and so much for studying for class tomorrow, but at most we tried. Anyways, kinda frustrating.. not that we didn't get 100%, because I knew we never would, but frustrating that they thought we could and wanted to try to force it. Anyways, guess I'll go try to study something.

Couldn't find the english one fast enough

This is what happens when I have too much sugar and stay up too late. Anyways, I'm all 5 guys singing, wanted to try out some free software, and the pictures I just stole from the net. I was looking for my english hymn book but couldn't find it, so, you get spanish. Hope you enjoy.

Update..

Due to a lack of interest, the poetry contest has been postponed. I'll wait till I get 10 entries and then put them to a vote. So keep writing and send them in.

Poetry in notion

Hey, for those that don't facebook it to the extreme, as per Misty's request, I've started another poetry contest. Poems are due by the end of August. The theme is "A stronger warrior against satan's wrath" Use that phrase or any other phrase you would like as long as the theme matches. I'm not worried about how long the poems are this time, just give me what you've got, and all you've got. Email the poems to my email, trmptrob18@yahoo.com, and I'll post them on here and on facebook (i've included my friends from there as well) and we'll vote on them double blindly, like last time. Happy Writing!! :)


p.s. double blindly means the poem is anonymous and the voter is anonymous as well.

Meteor Shower

So the property is AWESOME for meteor showers!! Russ and I took the opportunity to go to the property today. We got up there at about 6:30 and walked the property and everything then drove to the gas station to get some snacks, but it was closed, so we drove down to Duchesne and got some stuff at the gas station there and headed back just as it was getting dark. By about 9:30 it was dark enough to see millions of stars, and there were LOTS of meteors. I've been watching this meteor shower every year for the last 6 years or so and this was the most meteors I've seen in such a short period of time. We probably saw close to 30 in the 30 or 40 minutes we were watching. We headed home around 10 cuz one of the neighbors cows sounded like it was getting killed by a ferocious beast of some sort and it gave us the willies. But, all in all it was a good trip, we were going to go fishing at Strawberry too, but we kinda got a late start. I'm glad it turned out ok cloudwise because at 7 till about 8:30 it was kinda cloudy and even while we were watching there was lightning that kept flashing over Heber, but the sky above us was really clear. We just layed back on the porch and it was really nice. I'm definitely going to go back again next year. I bet the kids would even love it for a half hour. Anyways, that's really all I've got.

Farewell July!

It feels like it's about time to write again. So, I've learned 2 pages of my guitar song (see previous post) and I've gotten stuck on the fast stuff, but it is still good to practice. I'm currently trying to memorize First Nephi and for right now I'm just learning it by first letter and then once I can do the whole thing by first letter then I will begin memorizing it. So far I've learned 5 chapters and I seem to be able to remember it pretty well from day to day. Kelly, the girl that I hometeach, got me into learning morse code again so I've been trying to learn that as well.
As many of you have heard, Wendy is engaged. I haven't decided how I feel about that yet. It hit me pretty hard when I found out and I was angry for a few days. I don't want to be angry about it, I don't really want to be anything about it. However, it has been creating quite a bit of anxiety in my life again, so I had Pres. Reese and Steve, our secretary, give me a blessing last night and as they put their hands on my head they started to laugh over something silly, we almost had to take a giggle break (if guys take those) and I realized that I was surrounded by friends and that I've traded Wendy for new friends, better friends, friends that would drop whatever they were doing to help me through a hard time, and friends that I can trust enough to share something like that with them. And then I realized that the tears I've shed haven't been because of her, but because I got thinking about asking for a blessing and realized how many people love me. Enough about that.
I've almost finished watching all 11 seasons of MASH, in fact I'm half way done with season 10. On top of that, I am almost done with season 3 out of 4 of The Pretender, a series which I am so glad I bought. That is apparently where my summer has gone. But what a good summer. Pres. Reese challenged us in the presidency to try to date someone once a week, and that was a month ago, and so far I've averaged one date a week with 3 different girls. I also attended my first surprise party. I can't believe how far I've come in the last year. I also can't believe how many meaningful relationships I have now. I can honestly say that this is the first time since high school that I have had any real friends. The future looks bright, I don't know what it holds but it's gotta be better than where I've been. Alright I think that will do it.

Week things shall be made strong

Hello dear readers. I'm glad you came by. What a good week. It has been a long week and I don't really feel like I've accomplished much. A good friend of mine is getting his temple recommend back next week. Isn't that awesome? You see, he has struggled with the same things I struggle with, but almost 10 times longer than me. So that's happy! I had a date tonight with Holly, and I've gotta say that I've never seen a date go so well. I doubled with my roomy, Brandan. It was his second date with the girl he brought as well. I was getting nervous because Holly was late and Brandan was late. We were cooking pizzas and trying to throw everything together at the last minute and that's killer for someone who worries about everything. Anyways, Holly showed up and the pizzas got finished and we loaded everything into my cooler and hopped in the car and got Brandan's date and went to the Historic Brigham Park at first avenue and state street or something like that. Anyways, we had a picnic in the park with pizza and salad and stewart's key lime soda and we got there right at the right time to get good seats for the free concert (Nancy Hansen) at 8 and the concert was good then we played a fun game and walked back to the car. Just everything went well. Great conversation, great food and entertainment. No stress or anxiety, just good relaxed fun. The hardest part is admitting that mom was right about Holly: she is amazing. Oddly enough a girl from the ward called me this week and asked me to a concert for tonight as well. What would be the odds of me already having a date planned?? So maybe next week or something. Anyways. That's been my good week. I think I'm going to the temple tomorrow (or today if you go by actual time). Goodnight then, I best be off.

My next adventure

This is the next song I want to learn how to play. IT'S FREAKING AMAZING!!! I figure at 3 measures per week I should have it down by about this time next year! But I've already learned the first 6 measures (7 seconds of the song) Craziness, I know. Other than that things are going ok. I ended up with three A's and 1 A- last semester and only have 4 credits left for this fall.

My calling is going well. I've been put in charge of planning a paintballing activity. Our quorumn has challenged the other one to a battle. It should be fun, other than I've never paintballed and don't have any idea where to go or how much it will cost etc. But it should be fun, it isn't till the end of July or so.

I've been reading a couple books lately. One is titled "since you've been gone" and is about this girl with esp trying to solve a murder case from 7 years earlier that is linked to a recent kidnapping. The secong book is called "death qualified". I just started this one but it seems to be pretty promising. It starts with a guy that works at a college somewhere in colorado but he is being drugged basically into schizofrenia so he forgets who he is until he stops taking the pills and then escapes.

As far as anything else goes, I finally finished the Book of Mormon and have started over. I finished singing through the hymn book about a month ago and am currently on hymno 39 in the spanish hymn book at one a day. The spanish ones have been difficult because I have to exclusively read the words so I only get to sing the melody (if I know it).

Anyways, so that's been my life for the last month. Not much going on, sorry. I never really have anything entertaining to write about, but, apparently you're still reading anyway so it's your own fault by now. :P

Mortal Enemy

(as sung by an old black man)



I was just sittin deah and you came walkin back into my life...
I say I was just sittin deah and you came a walking back into my life...
So don't come talkin to me bout your degree and your wife.

You's my mortal enemy, so how deah you apologize...
yes you's my mortal enemy, son, so how deah you apologize..
you made my life so miserable I can't even look you in the eyes.

(blues guitar solo)

now we find ourself with the shoe on da same foot,
you done tried on my shoe, and you sees it done fits yo foot..
should i forgive you, brutha, or leave things ways they's put?

I was just sittin deah and you came walkin back into my life...
I say I was just sittin deah and you came a walking back into my life...
So don't come talkin to me bout your degree and your wife.




There's my blues song I wrote today. I was faced with my mortal enemy, one of the two people in my entire life I've actually hated. I asked him how he was, being polite, and he had the nerve to apologize for what he put me through. And I've never eaten a large-sized classic-triple combo that fast before..

Not much goin' on

Well, school is officially done till fall! I'm excited, but not as excited as I should be! I've got half of my grades in so far, both A's. That's really all that is new. I went to a party for my old roomie on Saturday. He finally got his PhD. So he had a party at his house. It was awkward, very awkward. You all know I'm not much of a "get out of my comfort zone" type of guy, so this was a pretty big step. I feel like I failed, really. I was so discouraged I had to go walk around Walmart for 45 minutes to convince myself I was ok. I don't understand how my brain works sometimes. For example, there are times when I can just go up and talk to people at a mingle or whatever and introduce people and get to know people and just be outgoing and "fun" without any fear or hesitation, even with people I don't know, and then sometimes I can be surrounded by people I at least know who they are, and I can't say anything or involve myself at all. How does that work exactly? It's annoying.
I had the opportunity last Saturday as well to go do some service at the Oakcrest camp. It was pretty fun. I went with my roomie and his stake. They had bagels and juice and water for us and we got to build some aluminum tables and cut down some trees and stuff. Had to leave at like 7 in the morning though.
I've also been asked to speak in church this Sunday. I'm not super excited about it, I've just gotta say. My topic is charity. The thing I struggle with is teaching things that people haven't heard every week their entire lives. I know when I'm listening to a talk and they pull out the verse in Ether about faith I just wanna stand up and yell "yes, we know, we get it, it's the first thing that popped into our heads too!!" Not that quoting that verse is bad or wrong, just not my style. So, if anyone has any stories they would be willing to let me use about charity, feel free to email me at and comment on here that you sent one, cuz they usually get sent to my junk folder for some reason.
I guess that's about all. Mostly just enjoying the good weather we've had lately and hopefully I'll be able to have some fun this summer.

Whose line is it anyway?

Ok, I'll admit it. I'm addicted to "Whose Line is it Anyway?" If you haven't seen the show you are really missing out, but not too much because you can see a lot of the episodes on youtube. For this reason I have included on the right hand side over there ----> one of my most favoritist segments. Click on it. Watch it. Prepare to laugh!! I listen to playlists of the show on youtube all day at work. It's nice cuz they have playlists of like 50 videos, each like 10 minutes long. The hard part is that a lot of the stuff you have to be able to see for it to be funny so I end up either skipping over at work to catch the hilarity or staying up till 1:30 to watch it at home. Warning though: some of the language on the youtube ones can be pretty bad because it is a lot of the out takes and bloopers etc. I like the "greatest hits" segments the most and hoedowns and newsflashes and props and infomercial and one where they start at the end of the scene and act their way backwards. Good times. I mean it. Take a gander some time.

No worries

It's ok everyone. I ordered glow sticks. You can sleep in peace tonight. It should be good. I think I got double what i got last year and they come in 7 colors instead of 4 :) and they were really cheap. Now, I just need to find a talent for the talent show. hmmmmmm.

Farewell

What an emotionally difficult day. Everything with the move and going to church, I'm exhausted and frustrated. We went hometeaching tonight for our last time as a companionship, and it was hard. It has honestly been such a pleasure to get to know these girls and I don't know if they'll still be under my care next month.. and for the first time in my life I could look someone in the eye and say "I hope you know we love you" and really mean it without all that relationship stuff in the way. One of the girls bore her testimony today and mentioned she's had a hard week and had to lean on her roommate cuz her faith wasn't strong enough, and my heart broke and for one of the few times in my life I was more concerned about someone other than myself. I was able to tell them some of my story and how amazed I am at what the lord can do with "even the least of these thy brethren" and thank them for helping me to grow even though they didn't know it, just by their amazing examples. Outside of family I don't think I've ever had a relationship like that. And though it's hard to be emotionally involved and it's hard to let someone in and care about someone else, I don't think I would trade it for anything. Sad that I'm 26 (almost 27) and just now learning how to be a friend, and how to let people be friends with me. Yes, so an emotional day, but a good day.... a good day.

Sunshine in my soul

Here is a drawing I really like. It was drawn by a lady named Jean Keaton. She has a lot of them like this. Amazingly, she is the wife of my institute teacher. The baby in the picture is one of their kids. She has some remarkable pictures like this. I don't know if you all remember a long time ago or not that long ago (I don't remember exactly either) when those five little girls died in the trunk of that car in somewhere here in Utah. She drew one of Jesus playing with those 5 girls as well, just darling. I couldn't find that one online though. You can google image search "Jean Keaton" to find more pictures like this one. My institute teacher showed us this picture to illustrate the part of "there is sunshine in my soul today" that says "when Jesus shows his smiling face there is sunshine in my soul." Amazing. I'm so glad that we believe in a loving, caring and happy Jesus. Anyways, just hope this brings a smile into your hearts today.

OOooohhh Yeah....!

That's right. You heard me. Allison and I went to Famous Dave's for dinner tonight and let me tell you, I fell in love all over again!! 5 bottles of bbq sauce, georgia pulled pork sandwich, fries, hell-fire pickles, and a raspberry lemonade really hit the spot. It was pure bliss, bliss on a bun. I'm still salivating actually. If you haven't been there you need to go, if you have been there you need to go back! Great company, odd waiter, and good food, what a Friday!

Free Haircut

So, I got a haircut the other day, an ok haircut minus the giant notch taken out of the back, but anyways... so as I'm paying the lady asks if I have a card and I say no, so she takes a new card and stamps it and hands it to me. On the card, I kid you not, it informs me that after I buy 12 supercuts I get the 13th free. /:) Ok, so, let me get this straight.... I have to spend upwards of 180 bucks to get a free haircut... a GUY'S haircut? I only get 3 to 4 haircuts a YEAR, who would wait 3 years for a haircut?! I'll be the only 30 year old in there for his free haircut, and that's if I only go THERE for my haircuts for the next 3 years, which I usually don't. Ugh. It's only a promotion if it's helpful, enticing or at least obtainable. Am I right? Free haircut. Anyways, just had to laugh.

Awesome day

Thanks everyone that came to the temple today. :) And thanks Mark for getting everything set up and bringing everyone in. (and thanks, Brian, for babysitting) For those that couldn't make it, it was Mom and Dad, Mark, Margaret, Dan, Annie, and me. I was almost late, it was crazy!! So I'm screaming downtown, missed the underground parking, had to double back, it's like 4:45. Finally get there and Mark helps me find the changing room and we change in, what was it? like 3 minutes? and run in and catch the 5:00 session just on time, and I mean JUST on time. It was a concerted effort with the ladies getting them to hold the session and everyone helping me find my way. Phew! But we went, and it was awesome! :)
Other news, so 2 of my roomies got engaged to their girlfriends today. Freaking sweet! Both girls are awesome from what I know about them. Anyways. There's the news. *poof*

Temple day

Hey everyone, Mom and Dad and I are going to go to the temple Friday afternoonish if any of y'all would like to come with us. I'm thinking the Jordan River Temple around 5:30 or 6 and I realized I haven't been to the temple with most of you (sorry about that) so it could be fun. If ya can't make it that's cool too, we can go some other time too. Let me know. OH, also, if you'd rather go to the Salt Lake temple we could do that too as I've never been there. aight.

Serenity, sweet sweet serenity

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. amen."

That's the serenity prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr. I like it, especially the first part. I've thought a lot about these phrases over the last few months. What things do I worry about? What, of those things, can I do anything about? What, of those things, can I do anything about right now? If I can do something, then I practice doing it, and if I can't, I practice letting it go. 1 a.m. is a good time for this because there is nothing I can do at 1 a.m. about anything yet I lay awake worrying about things. My therapist and I worked on relaxation this week. She lent me some meditation cd's and I've gotta say I really like them. There is one, oh my goodness, that is the sounds of a storm in the distance. I imagine green, rolling hills with dark clouds and thunder echoing from hill to hill. So I've been practicing listening to them as I go to sleep and it really helps me stop worrying about things. She also talked me into buying a teddy bear. Yeah yeah, laugh it up. He's a cute little bear and he does a remarkable job of reminding me that it's ok to let go of things and just sleep at night. I haven't, as of yet, found a good way to get myself to get OUT of bed in the mornings though so if anyone has any good suggestions for that, let me know.

How has everyone been doing on their practicing? Found anything yet? It really is remarkable how much can be done. I set up home teaching appointments this month and wasn't even afraid to call, well, not as much as usual. A couple weeks ago I noticed something, I don't think I'm depressed any more. It's been 11 years since I've felt so good about life and everything. That's a dang long time. Granted, I still have moments... but moments compared to days... weeks.... months..? I'll take it. I owe it to the Lord and the faith and prayers of you all, honestly. I could never thank any of you enough.

Till next time.

Week 1

Well, week one in the EQ presidency has been pretty good so far. I haven't been released from my old calling, (sacrament coordinator) mostly because we're the ones that are supposed to find a replacement for me.. and we haven't done it yet. But I don't mind so much. We did have a couple meetings this week, first with the bishop, and then with the old EQ presidency. Both were really good meetings.
:O so I can't believe I've never written about my theory of practicing on here. At least, if I have I don't know where it is and it hasn't been for the last month or so. Anyways, so I've discovered that "practicing" things is so much easier to do than "doing" things. For example, if I practice doing my home-teaching or making the phone calls etc. then it becomes so much easier to do. I don't know why that is or would be. Just kidding, I know exactly why that is. First (although there is no second), if I'm practicing something, like calling people, then I CAN'T fail. Think about it. If you practice the guitar, can you fail.. or just get better? If you practice free-throws can you fail, or just get more consistent? Do you see the paradigm shift? So now I practice EVERYTHING, well, not everything, I already eat pretty well, and can tie my shoes without thinking about it, BUT I practice the things that are hard for me.... like talking to people or calling people... I practice not giving in to things I shouldn't give in to (including eating out and drinking caffeine) I practice caring about people and thinking about people and reading my scriptures in the morning and going to bed at a reasonable hour at night and on and on and on. My challenge to each of you is to take this week and practice something, something you've wanted to learn how to do but can't MAKE yourself do. And let us all know how it goes, what you worked on, how it felt to practice vs. doing. I think you'll find some incredible insights to things you've maybe been afraid of trying. I know I did. But don't take my word for it. ba dun dun!

Some... well.... news

So, I walked in to the church today at noon like usual and start setting up the sacrament before choir starts and then I practice with the choir from 12:20 till 12:55 and rapidly finish preparing the sacrament and luckily the other guy found people to pass and got the bread ready. And as I'm going to sit down at the blessing bench one of the high consellors shakes my hand and says "Are you Robert?" "yes" "I need to meet with you after sacrament today if we could find a place to meet" So I spend the rest of sacrament meeting wondering what in the world he wants to meet with me about, because, high counsellors come from the stake, and the stake wanting to talk to me is not generally a good thing. And then I thought, well, maybe he has been talking with the bishop and wants to set up a time I can go in for a temple recommend interview with the stake president. And THEN I remembered a conversation I had with my roomie, the elders quorumn president, a couple weeks ago when I asked him how long they leave eq presidents in for, and he said a year, and I asked when he got put in, and he said the first week of February. So as I'm sitting there thinking in sacrament meeting I said "huh, next week is the first week of February. Crap" Sure enough, we met and they want me to be the 2nd counsellor in the north elders quorumn. And at the time I was ok with it, cuz I knew when Jake got called a year ago that this would be a possibility and after talking with him a couple weeks ago I think I kinda started to prepare myself. Anyways, so now I've got one more thing to be nervous about. They're going to set me apart next sunday and I imagine I'll get even more nervous by then. So that's my news. Adieu

You can call me superman

That's right, you heard correctly. I'm a life saver. I guess I've always known my super powers, but today I got to see them in action. That's right, my blood could save up to 6 people. Hold the applause. The best part is that I didn't pass out in front of all those girls, 3 of whom I home teach. Oh, and they had to give me ice packs and water to keep me from throwing up, BUT, who ever said being a superhero was easy? *dashes away*

Some late pictures

So here are some pictures that I finally decided to put on the blog. This first one is from the shooting trip on Thanksgiving.

More...

The carnage continues....

Thanksgiving balloon fun...

So there you have em, Thanksgiving and New Years. I would put text for each of them but putting in pictures is a pain. Anyways. So there ya go. Maybe I'll be faster with the next ones.